Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/126312
and ignition, which any rider could claim for $5500 . That left out the most important part, the exhaust, so it was an insane rule. "The change was made because of the fear that the Europeans - since racebikes are so expensive in Europe - were going to buy up all the TZ750s at Daytona, leaving the American riders without their bikes. "The road racing committee voted this year to change the rule somewhat. You could still buy the engine for S!i500, but you could also buy the entire motorcycle - everything, the complete bike - for $7500. If you buy a standard Yamaha TZ750 "from YafI.laha Motor Corporation, put mag wheels and a fairing on it , paint it , and get it ready with some rubber, it will run you abut $7500 by the time you get it to Daytona. That is an ~uitabl e figure. "But someone with a $100,000 suPer. fast motorcycle would surely not risk running it in a race where it could be claimed for $7500 . Gary Scott and l1alf a dozen other riders would be just waiting to claim the bike, because they *ant to be competitive. We're in a competitive sport. "On Thursday of Speed Week, the AMA changed the claiming rule back to the way it was previously, to where the riders could only claim the engine for $5500. Very few people were aware of this taking place. I believe it was a decision made by Mockett. "'. 'So Roberts , Baker and Cecotto show up with these very trick motorcycles, with all-different front ends and all -different monoshock units and trick restricrors and manifolds, and they've got 20 mph on everybody. The private guys without the trick parts don't have a chance to win the race, and they can't even claim the trick bikes . "The problem the AMA has now is Doug Mockett. The idea of one, very knowledgeable man in charge as Czar or Com missioner is a good concept. An example of such a man would be Bill France, who owns and runs NAS CAR. But there's a difference. Bill France has raced. Bill France has built vehicles . Bill France owns a n d o perates a race track - Da yto na International Speedway . Wha t has Mockert done? What are his credentials? He's a public relations man, and evidently not a very good one at that , since he has worked for and been fired by - Yamaha, Mike Goodwin and Bates Industries." By the time this non -stop outpouring of words is completed, McLaughlin is calm and the shirt is ironed. As he dresses, he reluctantly talks about the Yoshimura R&D of America Superb ike Production ride he lost less than two weeks after winning the Daytona Superbike race on a GSIOOO . "I'm not at liberty to go into the differences the Yoshimuras and I have at this point ," he says. " If' there's anyone who should comment on that, it should be the Yoshimuras. All I can say is that I have ridden for the Yoshimuras in four AMA Superbike Nationals. t T he y hadn't won a Superbike race for 2 ~ years before I joined their team . " T h e first event. Sears Point in 1977 , I rode their Z·I . had some handling prob lems. and couldn 't finish due to mechanical prob lems. My next race was Laguna Seca, which I won handily . The next race was Rive rside , where I got the pole position easi ly and led the race u ntil a mechanical malfunction occurred . Then we went up to Daytona , led the heat race until the bike blew up . " started the main event in last place. and won . I have my track record . which speaks for itself." I McLaughlin , not known for lacking words . will say no more . • ., STARS FAl l ON AlABAMA as Can-Am riders take 5 Golds at Maplesville, April 22-23. Once again, Can-Am came on strong in tough competition -this time at the Perry Mountain Motorcycle O ub 2-Day Qualifier, Maplesville, Alabama. Copping the golds for Can-Am were John M artin, 250 Class: Ron M atthews, Open Class. Ieoff Burgess, 175 Class: Jeff Smith, 350 Class: Duane Koenig, 250 Class, All we re on Can-Am Qualifier" machines. And if tha t weren't enough, other Can-Am Qualifier riders winning heavy metal were Tom McCoy and Bob Mclain with Silvers, and Dr. R. D. Fields and Harold Kelly with Bronzes, Southland is ''Birth of the Blues" for Can-Am MX-4 opponents. April was big for Can-Am in Motocross events. Norman layton, Jr. and Tim Mullins, both of layton Motorcycle Sales, Cartersville, Georgia, took the flag for firsts at the Burnt Hickory Motocross, April 9. layton spurred home a Can-Am 370 MX-4, and Mullins won on a 250 MX-4. At the Big Spring, Texas Motocross, Bobby Williams of Lewis Ashby's Cycle Hut of Odessa took first in the Expert Oass on a 250 MX-4. Painter covers competition on an MX-4 at Gastonia Hare Scramble. Ken Painter, riding for Callaw ay Mobile Homes of Denver, North -(£0Husqvarna Husky 390 Auto in stock We have one of the most co m plete lines of Husky pans a nd accessorie s in the co unt ry T&OYamaha 24020 Narbonne Ave. (Torrance/ Re don do area ) Lomit a, CA 90717 213-534-2311 'll'" , YAMAHA al CORONA , - 1101 E. 61h. 51. , Corona , CA (714) 735· 7721 - - - - - . 'WIld" Bill Hartley rides again. Resul t: another first. Raiford, Florida was the site of the 4/15 Enduro Polish Pathfinders, and Can-Am won again, this time with Bill Hartley up on a 125 Qualifier. Wm after win for Can-Am! What's that say to you? That maybe it's the bike for you. Could be. It just could be. Captive Power. Qll --rr~ em ark s of Bombard i~ Limit ed All Rig h ts reserv ed C Bombardier Lim it ed 4m SPECTRa OILS of CALIFORNIA 477 Industrial Way P.O. Box 1154 Placentia, CA 92670 714/996-6411 Sales . Service. Parts ,... Mike Paln"ck 's Carolina won a first at this Hare Scramble Cross Country on his Can-Am MX-4. For51decarAfotocross Frame kits and related parts J340 Hadenda Blvd. La Puente, CA 9J 744 2J3·336-4656 M o to cr o " VIV4 T" " ls ntontrs a VI V A DI ST R IBUTI NG CD 106 25 v ao o we n Bu rbdn k CA 91505 ]1376661 01 17